Please continue to spread the word to others who may wish to receive this information that they will need to access the ARRL members only web site. After becoming a member they must edit their profile and elect to receive bulletins from the Section Manager and Director. If you are already a member on the ARRL site (http://www.arrl.org) from the “Members Only” box click on “members data page” and then under email notification options set “Division/Section notices” to YES. You will receive the next bulletin sent. Past Bulletins are available at http://www.hudson.arrl.org

> SCAM WARNING *****

I had the following e-mail from QST Publisher, Mark Wilson, K1RO: Several members have called this week to say that they have received telephone solicitations to renew their “ham radio magazine subscription” before a price increase. One caller said he receives several magazines and asked if it was QST and was told “yes.” The solicitor then attempted to get name, address and credit card info.

We have published a story on the Web site warning members that such calls are not legitimate and asking anyone who receives such a call to let us know in as much detail as possible.

> FIELD DAY THIS WEEKEND

I hope you all have a GREAT Field Day although the long range weather forecast is showing rain and lightening. We have had enough of that stuff. I’ll be with the Boiled Owls – KW2O – on NLI. Please work our 2A commercial group.

Some of you I am sure had a smile of the headlines associated with the rock concert event in Calverton which said, “Field Day Cancelled.” Despite threats of rain etc. we will be there having a good time.

> HOLD NOV. 8th

The Hudson Division Awards Dinner will be held on November 8th in Northern New Jersey at Biaggio’s.

> FEMA AND ARRL PARTNER IN PREPAREDNESS THROUGH CITIZEN CORPS

Washington, DC — Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, today announced an official affiliation between the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and President Bush’s Citizen Corps initiative. At the ARRL National Conference, sponsored by “Ham-Com,” celebrating its 25th anniversary in Arlington, Texas, an affiliate partnership was signed between ARRL and Citizen Corps. The signed partnership will raise public awareness about the use of Amateur Radio as a public safety resource, provide training and accreditation for Amateur Radio Emergency Communications, as well as assist Citizen Corps Councils with public education, training and volunteer service opportunities that support first responders, disaster relief organizations, and community safety efforts. For more details see http://www.fema.gov/nwz03/nwz03_138.shtm from “FEMA News”

A lead up to the event story can be seen at http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/06/06/4/?nc=1

NEWINGTON, CT, Jun 24, 2003–ARRL now is an official affiliate program of Citizen Corps, an initiative within the Department of Homeland Security to enhance public preparedness and safety. ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, signed the formal Statement of Affiliation between DHS and ARRL during the ARRL 2003 National Convention June 21. Chief Operating Officer of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate (FEMA) Ron Castleman represented Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response Michael D. Brown at the signing. Citizen Corps Liaison to the White House Liz DiGregorio called ham radio operators the “first of the first responders.” ARRL Web Page

See http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/06/24/2/?nc=1 for more details and pictures.

> New 60-Meter Band to Become Available July 3!

NEWINGTON, CT, Jun 3, 2003–The new five-channel 60-meter amateur allocation becomes available to US Amateur Radio operators at midnight local time on July 3.

The new band will be a secondary allocation–federal government users are primary–and the first on which the only permitted mode will be upper-sideband (USB) phone (emission type 2K8J3E). The FCC last month announced it would grant hams access five discrete 2.8-kHz-wide channels in the vicinity of 5 MHz instead of the 150 kHz-wide band ARRL had requested–and which the FCC initially proposed more than a year ago. The ARRL remains optimistic that Amateur Radio eventually may be able to enjoy a band segment with multiple mode privileges at 60 meters, but ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, has said that in the meantime hams will have to be on their best behavior when taking advantage of the limited channelized allocation.

“In terms of Amateur Radio spectrum, we usually say, ‘Use it or lose it,'” he said. “The watchword for 60-meter operators should be, ‘Misuse it and lose it.'” Sumner has predicted that, over time, amateurs can and will “develop a record of disciplined, responsible use of the five channels in the public interest that will justify another look at these rather severe initial restrictions.”

The FCC has granted amateurs 5332, 5348, 5368, 5373 and 5405 kHz–the last channel common to the amateur experimental operation under way in the United Kingdom. The channels will be available to General and higher class licensees. In terms of day-to-day operation, use of the new band is expected to resemble the sort of channel sharing typical on local repeaters.

The NTIA selected the channels the FCC authorized to minimize the possibility of interference to federal government users. The NTIA also dictated the use of USB only as an interoperability convenience, so that federal government users–who also use only USB–could readily identify amateur stations if necessary.

ARRL Laboratory Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI, says hams hoping to operate on the new allocation need to be very careful if they’re considering modifying their current transceiver or transmitter. The ARRL recommends that members check with the manufacturer of their equipment regarding specific modification information. Some modifications not only might void the warranty on a piece of equipment but could affect or alter a transmitter’s operation in unpredictable ways.

“Hams need to be sure that any modifications put them right on the desired channel,” Hare said. The FCC, following the lead of the NTIA, has said that the channel frequencies in the R&O are all “channel-center frequencies.”

“Most hams are used to just having to think about band edges, so on other bands, if a mod were a bit ‘off,’ all operators would need to ensure is that they are not transmitting outside the band.” But, Hare recommended, on 5 MHz, amateurs must be within “a few tens of Hertz” of suppressed-carrier accuracy, and, he points out, amateurs have a mandate not to have any of signal occupy spectrum outside the assigned 2.8 kHz channels. Additionally, hams need to make sure before they go on the air on 60 meters that any mods they’ve made do not have unintended consequences, such as spurious emissions on non-amateur frequencies.

The NTIA advised in a letter to the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) that users of 60 meters should set their carrier frequency 1.5 kHz lower than the channel center frequency, according to this NTIA chart:

Noting that high-frequency audio response can vary considerably from radio to radio, Hare has suggested a more conservative approach. He suggests restricting audio bandwidth to 200 Hz on the low end, and 2800 Hz on the high end–for a total bandwidth of 2.6 kHz. Hare notes that some transmitters that the Lab has looked at are capable of bandwidths of 3.0 kHz or greater.

In its letter to the FCC, the NTIA also stipulated that radiated power should not exceed “the equivalent of 50 W PEP transmitter output power into an antenna with a gain of 0 dBd.” The FCC R&O set the requirement at 50 W ERP and said it would consider a typical half-wave dipole to exhibit no gain.

Hare said that amateurs’ willingness to adhere to the channel-bandwidth and power constraints imposed on 60 meters will be an important factor in ham radio’s use of this band–now and in the future.

> BROADBAND OVER POWER LINE” POSES HF INTERFERENCE THREAT

(This could be a bigger threat than the “Little Leo” proposals of as few years back. While “Little Leo’s” would have meant the possible loss of one band, the “BPL” proposal may mean a much higher noise level on a number of our bands in the 2 to 80 MHZ range. It may also put us in conflict with some of our neighbors who would be using these devices. It appears that there is a huge potential for two way interference here. See http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2003/06/19/2/?nc=1 de N2FF)

The FCC soon will invite public comment on the concept of using existing electrical power lines to deliver Internet and broadband service to homes and offices. The Commission initiated a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) in ET Docket 03-104 when it met April 23. What the FCC calls “Broadband over Power Line” (BPL) is a form of carrier-current technology typically known as power line communication (PLC). Whatever its name, the technology is raising serious interference concerns within the Amateur Radio community, since BPL would apply high-frequency RF to parts of the power grid. One aspect of the NOI is to gather information on potential interference effects on authorized spectrum users.

“Entire communities will be affected, so every amateur in that community could have part of the radiating system ‘next door’ on the power wiring on his or her street,” cautioned ARRL Lab Supervisor Ed Hare, W1RFI. Hare chairs the PLC Work Group of the IEEE C63 Accredited Standards Committee on Electromagnetic Compatibility http://c63.ieee.org/.

So-called “access BPL” would use medium-voltage (1 kV to 40 kV) power lines to deliver Internet and broadband applications. Hare says access BPL is likely to be a more significant interference source than in-building PLC technology “because overhead electrical wiring is a much better antenna than the electrical wiring within a building.”

ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, editorialized on the subject of PLC in “It Seems to Us . . .” in the October issue of 2002 QST. “Is it possible to do power line communications without causing interference to over-the-air communications?” Sumner asked. “Count us among the skeptics. What may be a fine transmission line at 60 Hz looks more like an antenna at HF.” Hare said his own computer analyses of interference potential from access BPL/PLC suggest “a significant increase in noise levels” from deployed systems.

Ed Hare and others on staff have done a remarkable job of pulling together in one place information that puts the lie to industry claims that “no interference has been reported” from PLC/PLT/BPL tests to date.

This link takes you to the news story posted on ARRL Web today: http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/04/30/2/?nc=1

This link takes you to an introduction to the detailed information: http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/04/30/2/more.html

This link takes you directly to the detailed information: http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/

More is at the FCC’s website at: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-233537A1.doc and http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-03-100A1.doc (CGC Communicator)

> President Haynie Testifies on Behalf of Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act

ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, testified June 11 on Capitol Hill on behalf of the Spectrum Protection Act of 2003, HR 713. The ARRL initiative would require the FCC to provide “equivalent replacement spectrum” to Amateur Radio if the FCC reallocates primary amateur frequencies, reduces any secondary amateur allocations, or makes additional allocations within such bands that would substantially reduce their utility to amateurs. Haynie was the last of 11 scheduled witnesses to speak during the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet hearing, “The Spectrum Needs of Our Nation’s First Responders.”

Check the story on the ARRL web site and also find an audio link which will enable you to listen to Jim’s testimony. You will be impressed. http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/06/11/101/?nc=1

> A VERY BAD IDEA IN NJ ASSEMBLY

If you want to stop this bad idea contact your New Jersey Assemblyman. A2798 is a proposed Bill which attempts to define a distracted driver who may be charged with reckless, careless or unsafe driving. It seeks to amend existing statutes on reckless and careless driving with the following paragraph: “When so warranted, a law enforcement officer may charge a person with a violation of the provisions of this section if that person, while operating a motor vehicle, engages in distracting behavior including but not limited to the use of communications technology such as wireless telephones, pagers, facsimile machines, locator devices, AM/FM radios, compact disc players, audio cassette players, video players, citizens band radios, and dispatch radios; engaging in personal grooming, consuming food or beverages; reading; or tending to unsecured pets.”

This NOT ABOUT HAM RADIO. The State already has statues in effect that define reckless and careless driving. If you feel strongly about this proposed Bill PLEASE write your State Representative and/or the sponsors and let them know your feelings. The Bill can be found at: www.state.nj.us Click on NJ Legislative, go to “find Bills” and follow the directions. E-mail links are there to the sponsors.

Please remember, legislators listen to their constituents if they want to get re-elected. 73, Bill Hudzik, W2UDT SM NNJ

> NEW YORK LEGISLATIVE SESSION ……

Thanks for your support, but we were not successful. But we will, with your support, be back at it again next year. We have a very difficult project here. Yes, other states have been able to get bills enacted, but please be aware that very few of them talk about the issue of height. Our bills in New York and New Jersey deal with the issue of height. We remain committed to getting a bill in both states that specifies a height below which local government may not regulate.

Despite our letter writing efforts and visits to Albany our antenna bills were not voted on in the legislature this year. W2GLA and I made two visits to Albany in June during the last two weeks of the legislature to talk to the sponsors and key members of Speaker Silver’s staff. The legislature was very distracted this year with other issues and problems – overriding the governor’s veto of the budget, brownfields legislation, and Rockefella drug laws – and finally the arrest of a key aide to Speaker Silver on rape charges only ten days before the session ended. The interesting sidelight here is the individual arrested is someone we had been dealing with on the telephone and that W2GLA and I were in the building when he was arrested. In the final days new staff people were brought in to fill his place but Silver’s office never really caught up and our bill never came to the floor. Knowing that the bill was not going to pass in the Assembly the senate sponsor, Dale Volker, never brought our bill to the floor. It would have been a waste of time and we understood his action.

It is frustrating but not surprising that our legislation did not get the attention it needed. Should the legislature go back into session later in the year they will not deal with our bill. They will deal only with specific legislation. We are disappointed but not discouraged.

We had letters from two US Congressional representatives supporting our bill – Congressman Steve Israel and Congresswoman Nita Lowey. We will be working on gaining additional support between now and next January when the next session opens. de Frank Fallon N2FF

> WANTED – Assistance with Central New Jersey Repeater Interference:

In September 2002 at the direction of William Hudzik, W2UDT, ARRL Section Manager, Hudson Division, NNJ Section, the Monmouth County Local Interference Committee (MCLIC) was formed in response to a rise in the number of incidents and complaints of repeater station jamming, especially to ARES, RACES and NTS nets.

The main focus of MCLIC is the geographic area of Monmouth County, New Jersey. It exists to address the problems with interference to Amateur Radio Service Repeater Stations in accordance with the Amateur Auxiliary to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). As a component of the Amateur Auxiliary program, Local Interference Committees (LIC) are commissioned by the ARRL Section Manager with an OO as the Chairman to investigate and resolve repeater interference problems.

The functions of the MCLIC shall include, but not be limited to: response to complaints/allegations emphasizing cooperative “no fault” solutions; signal identification/source location, liaison with Official Observer Coordinator and ultimately, ARRL Headquarters in difficult cases.

The MCLIC will operate at all times in accordance with the procedures stated within the “Amateur Auxiliary Training Guide” and/or other guidelines developed by the ARRL with complete impartiality to any individual or group involved in any investigation.

The MCLIC will act as a direct liaison to the Amateur repeater station sponsors within Monmouth County with programs to foster public relations between the MCLIC and the area repeater station sponsors to educate the Amateur community regarding the proper ways to deal with various types of general interference, deliberate interference and obscenity.

The MCLIC functions as both an advisory committee to the Monmouth County repeater sponsors on specific cases of Repeater Station Jamming as a technically proficient committee of investigators gathering and achieving data.

All repeater sponsors are urged to contact the MCLIC regarding interference problems to register official interference reports to bring the particular situation to the attention of the Section Manager.

In addition, in order for MCLIC to carry out is focus, MCLIC is in need of additional, dedicated volunteers. Especially needed are those Amateurs that have experience with and the needed equipment for radio frequency monitoring, recording and Radio Direction Finding (RDF).

For more information or to access the on-line complaint or membership application forms please visit: http://www.qsl.net/mclic/

> NY HOSTS PSK GRIDE SQUARE CONTEST

The TARA PSK Grid Square contest (The Grid Dip). Sponsored by Troy ARA, 0000z through 2400z, 2 August, PSK (and speed) and RTTY. 80,40,20,15,10,6 meters. Work stations once per band unless Rover has changed Locator. Exchange name, 4 digit grid locator. Enter 1 of 5 categories. QRP, 5w max. Low, 20w max. High, 100w max. Rover, 50w max. as a portable or mobile station operating from more than one Grid Locator, or SWL. Single/single only. Call CQ Grid Dip. Final score is QSO points * total different Grid Locators. Mults. count once per band. To be valid, scores must be received via our online score submission form found at http://www.n2ty.org/seasons/tara_grid_score.html or e-mail Logs to grid-manager@n2ty.org, by the last entry date 23rd August 2003. Logs must be available for review if requested. Please read web rules for details on http://www.n2ty.org/seasons/tara_grid_rules.html for more info e-mail to Bill Eddy, ny2u@n2ty.org or Ernie Mills, wm2u@n2ty.org

Originally announced for July 26, the test now occupies the 24 GMT hours of 2 August. Please note the change. This test is a wide-open shoot-out. All bands are included (80 to 6) and PSK31/63 and RTTY are the weapons available to the participants. There are some unusual rules including an exchange that includes the 4 digit Grid Locator. Note also that only single/single ops are allowed. Rules at http://www.n2ty.org/sasons/tara_grid_rules.html

Jump into this one! Multiple mode contests may just be the contest of the future. But that is not all TARA is doing.

This contest is but an integral part of the new TARA approach to their contest schedule. After restructuring their calendar they came up with one event for each season of the year Prefix contest for Spring, Grid Shindig for summer, PSK Rumble for fall and RTTY Melee for winter. TARA then decided to create a whole new class of shack wallpaper. Each year a Digital King or Queen, whoever has the

highest combined score, will be crowned as the BIG ONE. Neat idea! I trust they have ordered appropriate crowns.

> DXCC Card Checkers for the Hudson Division

If you have cards to check for DXCC these individuals can do it for you at hamfests or club meetings. See http://www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc/ for information about the program. The necessary application in PDF format is at http://www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc/dxccapp.pdf

Do you have persistent telephone interference problems? The problem is often the phone. “Try the RadioShack ET-296 series phones (e.g. 43-874, white, $14.99). If this type of phone receives interference, try unplugging all other phones in the house, including modems, answering machines, satellite TV receivers, etc. One of these could be generating AUDIO interference and putting it out onto the phone line. If so, an RFI filter on the offending unit should solve that problem. RadioShack carries a telephone RFI filter (part number 43-150) and you can also use the K-Com RF-1.” DSL filters may also work. (Thanks, Dave K6LL via The ARRL Contest Rate Sheet)

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Hudson Division Beacon – June 2003 — No Comments

Looking For Division Archives

At a recent hamfest I found a program from the 1982 Hudson Division
Convention. Over the past few years I’ve found only one or two items
of note regarding our Division and its’ history. It made me realize
that there was no central repository for items of a historical nature
that dealt specifically with the Hudson Division. There appears to be
a dearth of these materials.There have been conventions, both Division and National, in the Hudson
Division going back to the 1930s, clubs galore with their own QSL
cards, newsletters that were sent to members by Division leadership,
and so forth. So before it’s too late, and while we still have
members who have squirreled away copies of these materials in filing
cabinets or basement boxes, I am reaching out to the Division and
asking that you consider one of two things. First, please consider
parting with these materials and letting me take them. I’ll scan
them, put them up on the Division website to share with the members,
and then pass them on to succeeding Directors as the keepers of our
story.If you would prefer not to part with them, then please consider
scanning the items for placing on the website. Items would include:
Convention programs, Director newsletters (yes, they used to be printed
and mailed), Club QSL cards, QSL cards of operators of note, pins,
badges, etc., etc.Please let me know what you have